Journey of Light, the Underground Building
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Image: matteo_dudek | Flickr
Experiencing an underground building can be quite different from the usual above-grade architectural building types that often take light for granted.
Underground, light becomes a high commodity.
Light can be sculpted like clay underground — it can be molded, filtered and juxtaposed. Play with light in subterranean buildings can serve to guide, prepare and surprise occupants experiencing the space.
In addition, it is always an interesting experience to exit an underground building — natural daylight always seems different (with its vibrancy). It would be nice if above-grade portions of buildings would pay attention to their use of light (the way well-designed subterranean buildings often have to).
Of equal importance is the transition between the two — perhaps light can become and experiential journey from high to low, and visa versa.
Try imagining your current building having to exist underground. This just might jolt you to think about using building technologies and nature in whole new ways.
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What a positive observation! So many people assume underground buildings must be dark and dreary. See some interesting ideas about daylighting earth-integrated buildings at http://www.subsurfacebuildings.com/BuildingUndergroundwithaLightTouch.html.
Loretta,
Thanks for sharing that link. It’s true, there is so much more that architects can do with the “underground” – we need designers to think more creatively as they design such spaces.
I am a student currently on my last project and I think the observation of light is very important as quoted, imagining the current design being underground and the effect of the lack of light , not so much the lack of it but the miss use and lack of design with the effect it has within the space.
I found this statement very helpful and has brought to my attention the importance of the lighting in a building. I will be sure to remember and apply this in my next design, so thank you.